Thursday, 30 May 2013

Help Fight Global Warming with Profitable Alternative Assets Available through the Emerald Knight Group

The Code of Hammurabi is regarded as one of the earliest known legal treatises to deal with financial matters. Created by the namesake ruler who led Babylon to greatness from 1795-1750 BC, this ancient legal code obligated those who accepted money from merchants to pay back capital outlays even at a loss. Financial systems have since evolved tremendously, but then as now, investors have one goal in mind: profit.

Today, increased global awareness about environmental issues like global warming have opened up lucrative financial opportunities in the form of alternative assets with socially responsible outlooks that companies like UK-based Emerald Knight help market to interested parties. Some skeptics may dismiss such financial products offhand, arguing that global warming is a non-issue. Unfortunately, global warming is very much real, as illustrated by the following scenarios.

Increasingly warmer temperatures

Since 1978, scientists have continuously raised the alarm over rising temperatures worldwide. This phenomenon became of particular concern in Australia where, last January, temperatures rose to as high as 49 degrees Celsius, shattering all records since 1932. Certain areas in the United States are also at risk; a recent study from Columbia University has even predicted an increase in heat-related deaths in Manhattan this summer.

Rising sea levels

Sea levels throughout the world have risen dramatically over the last century, mainly due to thermal expansion and melting glaciers. Scientists note that global sea levels will increase at an accelerated rate, at roughly between seven and 23 inches by the century's end. Should this come to pass, the National Wildlife Federation predicts that by 2100, approximately 56 million people in 84 countries will be displaced.

Decreasing wildlife population

With the destruction of natural habitats and rampant pollution, the world's wildlife population has significantly declined over the past few decades, thereby upsetting the planet's ecological balance. In the UK, for instance, it is reported that 10 percent of species in the wild—including beloved creatures like hedgehogs, turtle doves, and red squirrels—are endangered.

You can make money through traditional means, or you can support meaningful environmental causes and make a profit at the same time. Companies like Gibraltar and UK-registered Emerald Knight continuously search for green funding initiatives with humanitarian dimensions, such as reforestation, carbon offsetting, sustainable energy research, and social housing, to name a few. Such companies maintain due diligence and study each recommended project thoroughly to ensure optimum returns.

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Adding Ethical Investments to your Portfolio with the Help of Emerald Knight Consultants

Putting your hard-earned money in assets that will yield great returns is never an easy enterprise. Moreover, traditional investments are not always sustainable, and some of them do not promote environmental stewardship or consumer and human rights. To make a good profit while safeguarding the environment and protecting the rights of the international community, individuals should look into alternative forms of growing their money.

Socially responsible investing (SRI) is one such alternative. Individuals interested in SRI avoid stocks and other assets that may damage communities or the environment, like weapons manufacturing, the production and distribution of pornography, and logging activities that lead to rapid deforestation. Individuals can seek the marketing expertise of Emerald Knight Consultants if they wish to add socially responsible assets to their portfolios.

Professional consultants can help their clients identify and repudiate assets that do not fit the criteria set down by SRI. While some assets may appear to be both lucrative and innocuous at first glance, they may have a tainted history. Examples of such assets include the trade in gemstones and precious metals like diamonds and gold. Some of these commodities are mined in countries that are experiencing armed conflict, with mining operations being directed by governments and insurgents that are guilty of extreme human rights abuses.

Socially responsible individuals will naturally want to avoid putting their money in blood diamonds and other conflict minerals, as income generated by such resources is being used to fund wars. Consultants from companies like Emerald Knight Ltd are well informed on current economic, environmental, and political trends, and will only market opportunities that have passed accepted ethical standards.

Companies today are leaning towards enterprises that benefit developing countries; this will not only yield great financial returns, but will also fuel growth in emerging markets. Social housing projects in nations like Brazil are capable of yielding an anticipated 20 percent in fixed returns as well as principal capital return in 12 months. These projects aim to transfer underprivileged Brazilians from slums to well-constructed homes in safe communities.

Eco-conscious opportunities—like reforestation projects, alternative energy research and development, and the purchase of carbon credits—have the power to mitigate the damaging effects of climate change and restore the world's dwindling forests and woodlands. By choosing ethically sound strategies to grow their money, individuals are securing not only their own futures, but those of entire communities as well.

Friday, 24 May 2013

Investment Portfolio: Different Types of Projects Marketed by Emerald Knight for Carbon Credits

When considering ethical investments, there are a multitude of choices to select from, each with different aspects to consider. Emerald Knight actively look for and promote ethical opportunities which can be marketed to their database to ensure clients have the opportunity to read about projects and determine for themselves if they are suitable for their portfolio. Below are examples of projects marketed by Emerald Knight Consultants.

Bamboo Investment

Planting the world’s tallest grass has proven to be a viable enterprise due to its rapid growth and numerous applications. Hectares of bamboo forests cater to the increasing demand for timber, while also serving as “cleaners” of the atmosphere by absorbing tonnes of carbon dioxide. One of the main highlights of investing in Emerald Knight’s bamboo projects is the return on investment (ROI) forecast at around 25 percent each year.

Renewable Energy

Alternative and sustainable energy sources are fast-growing investment opportunities, more so when more and more corporations and organizations are pressured to go green and reduce their carbon footprint. Technological developments have made the construction of solar farms and wind farms more feasible, the latter requiring careful site selection. Offshore wind turbines, especially in the United Kingdom, have begun providing several more gigawatts of electric power due to these investments.

Forestry Investment

If you’re looking for a long-term investment that focuses on carbon offsetting as much as ROI, sustainable forestry projects are a good option. Apart from minimizing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, forests also prevent flooding, soil erosion, and other imbalances in the ecosystem. Placing your money in forestry projects is like supporting the rehabilitation of sickly Mother Earth.

Timber Investment

Timber investment is different from forestry since timber is focused more on catering to demands for commercial wood. Timber forests are usually planted with hardwood and softwood tree species such as mahogany, teak, and pine. Without sustainable timberland, you can bid farewell to lumber, pulp and paper products, and wood-based construction materials.

Using Emerald Knight to research green investment opportunities is an effective way for you to learn about investment projects that are being set up to help make the world a better place. Indeed, you don’t need superpowers and a costume to be a hero. Sometimes, all it takes is a good head for investments, and a heart for ethical principles.